Fierce protests were needed in Egypt to awaken Brotherhood from illusion, commentators say
"We are alarmed and saddened by what is happening these days in Egypt", wrote Abdel Bari Atwan, editor of the pan-Arab newspaper Al Quds Al Arabi.
"Demonstrations reflect deep divisions and mutual hatred in the country, with each camp claiming the righteousness of its position, while ordinary Egyptians will, alone, pick up the broken pieces later," he wrote.
Referring to the mass rallies called by the National Salvation Front, an anti-government alliance, to force President Mohammed Morsi out of office on his first anniversary as head of state, the editor said Egypt's political elite is fighting the wrong battle after "falling into the trap of incitement and drive for revenge".
"This is not the democracy for which the Egyptian people started a revolution, sacrificing over 1,000 martyrs," he wrote in a column titled The Egyptian revolution has taken a turn to the unknown.
"And none of those players now represents the kind of alternative that the Egyptian people were hoping for … to make up for 40 years of corruption, repression, humiliation and gobbling up of the hard work of the poor, the deprived and the guileless."
On the eve of yesterday's protests, clashes between rival groups had already left at least eight people dead.
Egypt's National Salvation Front, led by the likes of Hamdeen Sabahi, a left-leaning presidential candidate in 2011, had earlier this year launched a campaign called "Rebel" to collect 15 million signatures from Egyptians wishing to see President Morsi out.
The 15 million signatures were meant to outnumber the 13.2 million votes that earned Mr Morsi the presidency last year, according to the local media.
Last week, the Rebel campaign organisers said they had beaten that target.
Other commentators, however, view Sunday's rallies as the culmination of national discontent over the Muslim Brotherhood's encroachment on the levers of power in Egypt and failure to effect a change.
Tariq Al Homayed, of the pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al Awsat, wrote yesterday that "history will remember that the current president, Dr Mohammed Morsi, failed to save Egypt, himself and his Muslim Brotherhood".
In his first-anniversary address last week, Mr Morsi simply put himself and his party in a worse position. "The president's recent - and lengthy - speech was a political disaster. He further united his opponents and lost those who were still on the fence," the writer said.
"So whatever transpires on Sunday, one thing is certain: that the president has missed a chance to save Egypt, himself and his Brotherhood. He has wasted a whole year, not making any real effort to engage his opponents … or even preserve his alliance with the Salafists."
Middle East descends into religious warfare
They shouted "Oh Hussein" - the name of one of Prophet Mohammed's grandsons and the son of Caliph Ali, one of the most venerated figures in Shiite Islam - when they killed Sunnis in the Syrian town of Qusayr a few weeks ago.
In Giza, Egypt, this month Sunnis cried "God is Great" as they beat to death a group of unarmed, unresisting Shiites.
Palestinian academic Khaled Al Hroub cited these events, in an article in yesterday's edition of the London-based paper Al Hayat. He called the two cases the latest signs of the Middle East's "rather confident entry into the territory of religious warfare".
"All the evidence before us, and in almost every Arab-Islamic nation, proves this increasingly irrefutable, now almost scientific fact: the more religion and sectarian sentiment are injected into politics, the wider the scope of bloodshed and destruction," he wrote.
"We refuse to learn from the lessons of history, from the long decades lost in religious warfare precisely due to the mixing of religion and politics."
Just look at the infighting among Islamists themselves, the writer added. "The Salafists in Tunisia have declared the ruling Ennahda Party Islamists to be infidels; the Salafists in Egypt are antagonising the Muslim Brotherhood … and Hamas fighters laid siege on Jihad Al Islami fighters, chased them and ran them over."
Political resolution in Syria must come soon
There are still shimmers of hope for the Syrian conflict to be resolved politically, but that dim light will eventually fade if the brokers of a negotiated settlement between the rebels and President Bashar Al Assad's regime continue to indulge in their current tactics, the Dubai-based newspaper Al Bayan said in its editorial yesterday.
For instance, a date for the "Geneva 2" conference, which is really the only existing hope for both sides of the conflict to agree on a political resolution under a US-Russian umbrella, has still not been specified, the paper said.
The Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, affirms that his country is committed to Geneva 2 but that "some countries and groups" are complicating matters by advancing preconditions.
"If we were to ask a US official to comment on this, he would give us a similar response, which is that Russia is setting a precondition, that the prospective negotiations must not involve the question of ousting President Bashar Al Assad," Al Bayan observed.
The more time spent away from the negotiating table, the more bloodshed and destruction there will be, the paper said. One day, neither the regime nor the rebels will want to hear anything about a political settlement, the paper concluded.
* Digest compiled by Achraf El Bahi
aelbahi@thenational.ae
Company%20profile
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The alternatives
• Founded in 2014, Telr is a payment aggregator and gateway with an office in Silicon Oasis. It’s e-commerce entry plan costs Dh349 monthly (plus VAT). QR codes direct customers to an online payment page and merchants can generate payments through messaging apps.
• Business Bay’s Pallapay claims 40,000-plus active merchants who can invoice customers and receive payment by card. Fees range from 1.99 per cent plus Dh1 per transaction depending on payment method and location, such as online or via UAE mobile.
• Tap started in May 2013 in Kuwait, allowing Middle East businesses to bill, accept, receive and make payments online “easier, faster and smoother” via goSell and goCollect. It supports more than 10,000 merchants. Monthly fees range from US$65-100, plus card charges of 2.75-3.75 per cent and Dh1.2 per sale.
• 2checkout’s “all-in-one payment gateway and merchant account” accepts payments in 200-plus markets for 2.4-3.9 per cent, plus a Dh1.2-Dh1.8 currency conversion charge. The US provider processes online shop and mobile transactions and has 17,000-plus active digital commerce users.
• PayPal is probably the best-known online goods payment method - usually used for eBay purchases - but can be used to receive funds, providing everyone’s signed up. Costs from 2.9 per cent plus Dh1.2 per transaction.
Specs%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%20train%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V8%20and%20synchronous%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E800hp%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E950Nm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEight-speed%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E25.7kWh%20lithium-ion%3Cbr%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%203.4sec%3Cbr%3E0-200km%2Fh%3A%2011.4sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E312km%2Fh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20electric-only%20range%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2060km%20(claimed)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Q3%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1.2m%20(estimate)%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Company%20Profile
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Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
A%20QUIET%20PLACE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
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Revival
Eminem
Interscope
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EImelda%20Staunton%2C%20Jonathan%20Pryce%2C%20Lesley%20Manville%2C%20Jonny%20Lee%20Miller%2C%20Dominic%20West%2C%20Elizabeth%20Debicki%2C%20Salim%20Daw%20and%20Khalid%20Abdalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWritten%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPeter%20Morgan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%20stars%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
If you go:
Getting there:
Flying to Guyana requires first reaching New York with either Emirates or Etihad, then connecting with JetBlue or Caribbean Air at JFK airport. Prices start from around Dh7,000.
Getting around:
Wildlife Worldwide offers a range of Guyana itineraries, such as its small group tour, the 15-day ‘Ultimate Guyana Nature Experience’ which features Georgetown, the Iwokrama Rainforest (one of the world’s four remaining pristine tropical rainforests left in the world), the Amerindian village of Surama and the Rupununi Savannah, known for its giant anteaters and river otters; wildlifeworldwide.com
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
2019 Asian Cup final
Japan v Qatar
Friday, 6pm
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
RESULT
Valencia 3
Kevin Gameiro 21', 51'
Ferran Torres 67'
Atlanta 4
Josip Llicic 3' (P), 43' (P), 71', 82'
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.